The Welfare Board of the workers of Sindh (WWB) decided on Sunday to extend its next electric bicycle scheme beyond women to industrial workers in minority communities.
The measure coincides with the National Minority Day, which is celebrated on August 11 every year. Commemorates the historical discourse of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, held on August 11, 1947, where he emphasized equal rights for all citizens, regardless of religion.
According to a statement, Sindh’s Secretary of Labor, Rafique Qureshi, stressed the symbolic importance of this step, noting that “the White Strip on the Pakistan flag represented minorities and their equal rights.”
Religious freedom remains a challenge in Pakistan, with recurring incidents of mafia attacks, forced conversions and blasphemy cases, as indicated by Sebastien Lorion of the European Union.
Last month, the Minister of State for Religious Affairs and interreligious harmony, the Kesoo Mal Kheal Das acknowledged that religious minorities in the country face administrative and governance problems.
According to Kheal Das, the Law for the establishment of the National Minority Rights Commission has been approved by both Chambers of Parliament and awaits a presidential assent.
The Human Rights Parliamentary Commission in Association with the Social Justice Center implements an EU project to strengthen minority rights in Punjab and Sindh.
In July, a group of non -Muslim senators wrote to the president of Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, asking for the formation of a minority caucus in the Chamber to represent their rights.
Last year, the founding president of the Pakistan Minority Movement, Peter Charles Sahotra, had said that minority communities face insecurity and discrimination in Pakistan and asked the government to guarantee their rights as provided in the Constitution.
Health insurance increased houses with solar energy
The WWB also announced several other steps for the welfare of workers.
“The workers’ accidental health insurance plan will now provide annual health coverage worth RS0.7 million, along with access to treatment in 270 hospitals throughout the country,” he said.
The WWB also announced an important housing change, replacing workers’ floors with totally solar houses. The schools under the Board will also be solarized, and the students receive two sets of uniforms every year.
In line with the directives of the Prime Minister of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, the subsidy of death will increase to RS1M, while the marriage subsidy will rise from RS0.3M to RS0.5M, said Sindh’s Secretary of Labor.
“The Board is digitizing all its operations to guarantee the provision of fair and transparent services to workers,” Qureshi said.
The WWB, after its formal approval, will invest RS3 billion in the Pakistan Stock Exchange and Securities Commission (SECP) and approved the Sukuk bonds that comply with the Shariah to further strengthen the financial position of the institution and expand the facilities for workers.
